HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2277

BYRepresentatives Pruitt, D. Sommers, Rust, Walker, Brekke, Schoon, Valle, Fraser, Phillips, Nelson, Sprenkle, Hine and P. King 

Creating a joint select committee on air quality.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; D. Sommers, Ranking Republican Member; Brekke, G. Fisher, Fraser, Phillips, Pruitt, Schoon, Sprenkle, Van Luven and Walker.

House Staff:Rick Anderson (786-7114)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS JANUARY 12, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Citizens and agencies participating in the Environment 2010 project have independently cited air pollution as the state's top environmental problem.

According to the Department of Ecology's state of the environment report, significant progress has been made in controlling the six regulated pollutants emitted from large industrial sources. However, such industries may continue to be a significant source of "air toxics", a class of non-regulated emissions suspected of causing adverse health effects.

The Department of Ecology's report also states that the predominant sources of regulated pollutants may be automobiles, woodstoves, and outdoor burning.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The bill creates a joint select committee on air quality.  The committee consists of six legislative members and nine non- legislative members.  The committee is directed to make recommendations on improving the state's air quality to the legislature by January 18, 1991.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Three amendments were adopted in committee:  1) The nine non-legislative members are given voting privileges; 2) One member of the committee is required to be knowledgeable about the woodstove industry; and 3) The committee is required to review certain air pollution data before making recommendations.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Henry Sharpe, City of Seattle; Bruce Wishart, Sierra Club; Elizabeth Tabbutt, WEC; and Stu Clark, Geology.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Air pollution will be a top environmental priority in the upcoming years.  A joint select committee will provide for necessary legislative involvement.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.